How to Hard Reset iPhone: The Complete Guide for Every Model

A soft reset is where you restart an iPhone without affecting data or settings. This should be your first troubleshooting step for minor glitches. 

A force restart (sometimes called a hard reset) reboots the device to resolve system freezes or unresponsiveness without erasing data. It stops all processes and clears RAM, but it might be the only option when your phone isn’t responsive. 

As noted by MacRumors, using the force restart process means you don't have to shut the iPhone down via iOS settings.

For iPhone 8 and newer models, quickly press and release the volume up button, then the volume down button, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, press and hold the volume down and side buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears. For how to hard reset an iPhone 6s and earlier models, press and hold the home and top (or side) buttons together until the Apple logo appears.

Remember that before attempting any reset procedure, it's important to protect your device with a quality case. The most protective phone cases can prevent damage that might require a reset in the first place, saving you time and potential data loss.

Here’s a summary that highlights the differences between phone reset options: 

What if soft and hard resets don’t work? Settings reset target specific phone functions without erasing personal data. This makes them ideal for troubleshooting network issues, keyboard problems, or home screen layout glitches. 

Factory reset iPhone (also called "Erase All Content and Settings") completely wipe your device, returning it to its original state — a step that should only be taken after backing up your data.

Because of the nature of this process, if you want to restore an iPhone to factory settings, you should use your passcode and Apple ID password as security measures before proceeding. 

Luckily, many common iPhone problems can be resolved with targeted settings resets, avoiding the need for a complete factory reset. 

System failures usually require hard resets. These might also be necessary in the case of persistent app crashes or boot loops. 

If you don’t want your personal information to fall into the wrong hands, a factory reset will be necessary. It’s the right step to do when selling, trading in, or selling your iPhone for repair, according to CyberGhost Privacy Hub. 

However, before you learn how to  factory reset an iPhone, you should back up your data on a computer or iCloud. 

When preparing your iPhone for resale, consider how your device's condition affects its value. The benefits of using an iPhone case throughout ownership can help maintain your device's resale value, as phones in better condition fetch higher prices in the secondhand market.

For iPhone 8 or newer models, you can connect the iPhone to a computer, then press and quickly release the volume up button, press and quickly release the volume down button, and hold the side button until the recovery mode screen (computer icon with cable) appears. 

If you have an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, connect it to a computer, then press and hold the volume down and side buttons simultaneously. 

For iPhone 6s or earlier, connect it to a computer, then press and hold the home and top (or side) buttons until the recovery mode screen appears. Use Finder, iTunes, or Apple Devices on the computer to access recovery options like updating or restoring iOS. 

Remember that timing is crucial when entering recovery mode, as buttons must be pressed in the correct sequence with proper timing.

Here’s a summary of how the recovery mode works for different iPhone models: 

Device Firmware Update (DFU) mode is the most comprehensive reset option for an iPhone. It’s ideal for devices stuck in bootloops, with corrupted system files, or with severe software damage. 

Unlike recovery mode, DFU mode allows a complete software restoration. In other words, it overwrites all device software, fixing persistent issues that standard resets or recovery mode cannot address. 

To enter DFU mode, connect your iPhone to a computer running Finder. Since DFU mode erases all data, back up critical information beforehand. Scanning documents on your iPhone and sending them to the iCloud before entering DFU mode can help preserve important information that might otherwise be lost during the reset process.

The steps to enter DFU mode depend on your iPhone model and require precise timing. Follow  Apple’s official guidelines for your specific device, as incorrect timing may cause recovery mode instead. 

If your iPhone is disabled, you can connect it to a computer previously trusted by the device, running Finder (macOS Catalina or later), iTunes (older macOS or Windows), or Apple Devices (Windows 11). 

Then, enter recovery mode using model-specific button combinations and select “Restore” when prompted by the software. This process erases all data but unlocks the iPhone for use. The latest compatible iOS version will be downloaded from Apple’s servers to reinstall the operating system.

After restoration, you must set up the iPhone as new or restore it from an existing iCloud or computer backup.

If you can’t access your iPhone, use iCloud.com's "Find My" feature to remotely erase it. Find My iPhone must be previously enabled, and the device should have internet connectivity. This process will work regardless of passcode complexity or how many failed attempts have occurred. 

When it works, your device will require your Apple ID credentials during setup, preventing unauthorized use. 

Not all your data can be restored using standard Apple backups. This is where third-party tools can help. Some of them can help extract messages, voicemails, call history, and app data that might otherwise be lost. Some of them even allow selective restoration of specific data types without requiring a complete device restore.

In some cases, the backup is incomplete, and selective data recovery might be possible. You can check "Recently Deleted" albums in Photos, restore purchases through the App Store, and recover documents from cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox.

What if critical data wasn’t backed up? Some professional data recovery services can sometimes retrieve information from factory reset devices. Although this is an expensive option, it might be worth considering for irreplaceable data like family photos or business documents.

According to Apple, iCloud automatically backs up your phone daily. Although these backups are convenient, they’re limited by storage space and internet speed. 

On the other hand, computer backups via iTunes/Finder are more comprehensive and faster but require a physical connection and computer storage space. 

If verification fails, this could be related to Apple server connectivity issues or Apple ID authentication problems. Check your internet connection and verify your Apple ID credentials.

While troubleshooting reset verification errors, you might need to check your device's connection to the internet and other devices.

While you’re here, check out our guide to  Wireless CarPlay, so you can connect your device’s audio while on the go! 

If the storage space is insufficient, a reset failure will probably happen. Before a reset, remove large apps and media files to free up space. 

Compatibility issues between iOS versions can also cause problems, especially if you’re restoring from a backup created on a newer iOS version to a device with an older iOS version. 

You can check how much storage you actually need and solve the phone storage dilemma by checking our Rokform guide. 

Failed attempts usually keep your iPhone in a boot loop, where it’s continuously restarting. You can overcome this by force restarting your device and entering the recovery mode once you spot the Apple logo.

Instead of trying to restore data, update your iOS first. This will replace potentially corrupt system files and prevent data loss after you restart an iPhone. 

In some cases, software corruption persists even after multiple reset attempts. This indicates deeper system issues, potentially in the device firmware.

A computer-based restore using the latest version of iTunes/Finder with your iPhone in DFU mode might work. If this fails, this issue may require professional service from Apple or an authorized repair provider.

For iPhones with physical home buttons, press the home button and power button simultaneously for 10 seconds to force restart. For factory resets, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. These older devices often take longer to complete the reset process. 

First-generation Touch ID devices (iPhone 5s through 6s) require additional steps when resetting to ensure biometric data is completely purged. After performing the standard factory reset, older Touch ID data can sometimes cause authentication conflicts. To overcome this issue, set up your device as new before restoring it to clear biometric caches that might otherwise persist. 

iPhone X and later models that feature Face ID are more challenging. During resets, you might accidentally face issues with facial recognition, so most people agree they require several days of practice. 

For optimal results, show your face in varied lighting conditions. Consider creating an "Alternative Appearance" for situations where your look changes significantly.

Modern iPhones without home buttons rely on gesture navigation, which isn't intuitive for all users after a reset. Many users actually skip the tutorial during the initial setup process. These gestures may feel awkward initially after resetting but become natural with practice. 

Plan your reset during periods of low dependency, like evenings or vacation days. Allocate 1-2 hours for the reset process itself, plus additional time for restoring apps and reconfiguring settings.

It’s always recommended to schedule resets after major iOS releases to start fresh with the newest features or before switching to a new Mac or iPad to ensure consistent data across devices.  

Smartphones are considered authentication hubs for numerous services. This is why authentication alternatives need to be established before beginning the reset process.

Before resetting your phone, generate and safely store backup codes for critical services (Google, Microsoft, financial institutions) or temporarily switch verification to alternate devices or phone numbers. 

Remember that authentication apps like Google Authenticator don't back up codes to iCloud. You’ll have to manually transfer these to a new device or temporarily switch to SMS verification before resetting. 

Password managers are extremely helpful, but you must ensure you have alternative access methods before resetting your iPhone. Have an encrypted backup of your password database to a secure computer, verify you know the master password, and confirm you can access the password manager's recovery methods.

Instead of restoring all previous apps, reinstall only what you actively use. These include essential utilities and communication tools. Then, add gradually as needed. 

After resetting, iOS enables numerous background processes by default. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and limit this feature to essential apps only. 

Similarly, review Location Services and restrict "Always" permission to navigation apps while setting others to "While Using" or "Never." These adjustments significantly extend battery life and maintain performance gains from your reset.

Next, disable unnecessary notifications and turn off automatic app downloads and updates. Choosing Low Power Mode and disabling unnecessary Siri features will improve performance and improve battery life. 

Different types of chargers can also affect your phone’s performance. You can also learn more about all the necessary widgets on the iPhone to adjust their settings and performance. 

After reset, apps will request permissions as if newly installed. Grant only essential permissions and deny requests for contacts, photos, or microphone access unless absolutely necessary for core functionality.

The Advertising Identifier links your activity across different apps for targeted advertising. You can deactivate this feature by going to Settings > Privacy > Tracking and disabling "Allow Apps to Request to Track." 

Additionally, go to Settings > Privacy > Analytics & Improvements and disable sharing options to minimize data collection. Limiting these tracking mechanisms reduces battery consumption while enhancing privacy.